Rep. Elena Parent says she plans to introduce legislation to “tweak” state laws governing the creation of new cities to make parts of the process more transparent.
“The incorporation laws we have now need some work,” the DeKalb County Democrat told about 50 people gathered Jan. 23 for a town hall meeting at the DeKalb County public library branch in Doraville. “I think our process could use a little more sanity.”
Parent said the debates over the proposal to create a new city of Brookhaven in north DeKalb have convinced her changes were needed.
Reps. Mike Jacobs of DeKalb and Tom Taylor of Dunwoody, both Republicans, have introduced legislation to create the proposed new city in an area bounded by Chamblee, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Atlanta, portions of I-85 and Clairmont Road and the DeKalb-Peachtree Airport. A legislative committee is scheduled to take up the proposal Jan. 24.
The debate over the proposal has included disputes over which neighborhoods and commercial districts should be included in the new city. Jacobs has adjusted the proposed boundaries to remove the airport, which already is partially in Chamblee, and Century Center, an office park near neighborhoods that were not included.
“The way the process is now, everyone thinks they need to grab the commercial property near them,” she said. “Everyone is fearful.”
Parent said her proposed legislation would allow existing cities “to have a say” in the boundaries of a proposed new city.
